Tony-nominee Menzel happy to be home on Broadway

John Carucci Associated Press

Posted:
06/06/2014 03:07:47 PM MDT

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FILE - This March 2, 2014 file photo shows Idina Menzel performing during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Menzel is nominated for a Tony Award for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical for her role in "If/Then." The Tony Awards will be held on Sunday, June 8, in New York. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — After taking a break from the Broadway stage, Idina Menzel found much success.

Her voice starred in the highly successful Disney film "Frozen" and she had a No. 1 hit with the song "Let It Go." And she even got to perform the award-winner at this year's Academy Awards.

But with the exception of being the mother of a 4-year old, it's returning to the stage that matters most for Menzel, who won a Tony in 2004 for "Wicked."

"It's all been life-changing and extraordinary — but my home is the theater and being back in New York, and being in the Broadway community is — this is the pinnacle of that," she said.

"No matter how amazing the Oscars and the success of 'Frozen' and all of that is — and believe me, I don't mean to underplay it. But my home has always been Broadway, and I waited a long time to come back and I'm back with something that moves me and had changed me as a person in the way I see it."

Menzel said it was "an amazing experience" to be involved in the development of her new musical, "If/Then," especially when it reunites her with "Wicked" producer David Stone, "Rent" director Michael Greif and "Rent" co-star Anthony Rapp.

"It's been an incredible honor to be surrounded by such talent," Menzel said.

Their collaboration led to a new Tony nomination for her performance. "It's an honor to be here and represent the show and to celebrate it," she said.